There is movement happening in the world of surgical gowns. It is driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought new focus to the need for adequate stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE)—and for PPE that works as intended. Staff need to know their gowns incorporate the latest technology…

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Editor's Note A study published by JAMA Network on February 14 reveals cognitive symptoms to be common among individuals suffering from post-COVID-19 condition, also known as long COVID. Conducted by Abhishek Jaywant, PhD, and colleagues from Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, the research focused on the prevalence of…

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Editor's Note The impact of body mass index (BMI) on hernia recurrence is likely overstated, and symptomatic patients should not be denied abdominal wall reconstruction procedures due to an arbitrary BMI cutoff of 35 kg/m2. This is the conclusion of a study published February 1 in the journal Surgery by…

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Editor's Note Amid a nationwide shortage of anesthesiologists straining many healthcare systems, new data from the Kaiser Family Foundation offers a state-by-state comparison of the number of anesthesiologists per physician. As of January 2024, the data reveal that Indiana leads states with the most anesthesiologists per physician at 13.12% (1,211…

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Editor's Note Due to its impact on a variety of organ systems, COVID-19 could elevate perioperative risks even among patients with mild symptoms, according to a study published in the February 2024 issue of Anesthesiology. Focused on patients presenting for elective inpatient surgery between April 2020 and April 2021, the…

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Editor's Note Without proper nail care, proper handwashing might not be enough to prevent infection and death among infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). That’s according to a February 8 report from nurse.org, which drove home the importance of following hygiene protocols by highlighting real-world evidence confirming the…

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Editor's Note Billing, records, appointment scheduling and other systems at Lurie Children’s Hospital were still offline a week after representatives of had to cancel a planned OR Business Management Conference presentation due to a cyberattack. According to a February 12 report from the Chicago Sun-Times, the January 31 cyberattack is…

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Editor's Note The FDA has issued a Class I recall of Philips’ BrightView, BrightView X and BrightView XCT Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scanners due to a component failure that could result in the system’s detector falling on patients. Philips sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Correction…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission and National Quality Forum (NQF) on February 14 announced the recipients of the 2023 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards. The Awards recognize major achievements by individuals and organizations to improve patient safety and healthcare quality. This year’s recipients are: National Level Innovation…

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Editor's Note New survey data indicate most nurses have experienced workplace violence within the past year, and the problem appears to be getting worse. Conducted by National Nurses United (NNU), the nation’s largest union and professional association of registered nurses, the nationwide survey gathered data from nearly 1,000 nurses working…

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